10 Ways to Maximize Your Off Property Disney Vacation

Wondering how you can make your off property Disney vacation just as special as staying at one of the Disney Resorts? With insider advice from Traveling Moms, learn the secret tips to unlock an amazing off property trip with lots of Disney pixie dust.

10 Ways to Maximize Your Off Property Disney Vacation

No need for a hotel water park when you can visit Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park with an easy Park Hopper add on to your ticket package. Photo credit: Kymri Wilt / Photo TravelingMom

Finally. The time has come to plan the family trip to Walt Disney World. You’re not sure who is more excited, the kids or the adults. Now, the biggest decision that needs to be made is will you stay on Disney property or will you plan an off property Disney vacation? Staying on Disney property is definitely a magical experience, but you can also create lasting memories staying elsewhere too. Here are 10 reasons to plan an off property Disney vacation that can help you maximize your fun and your dollars, while creating those unforgettable memories.

Set Your Budget: The overall cost of a Walt Disney World vacation is a big factor in how guest plan their trip. For many, planning an off property Disney vacation is one of the ways they plan to save money. However, before you can find places to save, you need to know where you will spend. Active TravelingMom tells you how much it costs for a Disney World vacation and gives you a list of what to consider when budgeting. There is no doubt you can save some money planning an off property Disney vacation.

Spread Out: We all know there is a premium for staying on-property at a Disney resort. To entice you off property, many hotels offers guests more space for the same money. According to Road Trip TravelingMom, more space is one of five ways to keep sane during a busy Disney vacation.

Bring the Whole Family: Multi-generational travel is hot right now and one of the best places for a multi-gen vacation is Walt Disney World. However, there aren’t a lot of affordable lodging options on Walt Disney World Property for a large family that wants to stay together. Globetrotting TravelingGrandmom has the scoop on planning a multi-generational getaway to Orlando.

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Is that a boat? A car? No, it’s an AMPHICAR! Photo by Disney.

See Fireworks. Bet you didn’t know you could see fireworks outside the parks too. And some of the best places to see the fireworks are at non-Disney hotels. Teen TravelingMom knows the secret spots to see fireworks outside the Disney Parks.

Spread a Little Pixie Dust: Just because you aren’t staying on Disney property doesn’t mean your off property Disney vacation will miss all the Disney magic. Many off-property hotels have character breakfasts and Disney gift shops, but Travel Hack TravelingMom has some ingenious ways to add even more pixie dust to your off property Disney vacation. Bonus: many will save you money too.

Enjoy Early Morning Hours at the Magic Kingdom: Planning an off property Disney vacation may not get you access to extra magic hours, but you don’t need them with Mindful TravelingMom’s tip on how to get early entry into the Magic Kingdom. Note: this tip does require some pre-planning, so don’t wait to read it.

Take a Break: Getting to the park early is one of the best tips for maximizing your stay, but the next best is to take a break during the heat of the day when the parks are most crowded. This is a great time to take advantage of your resorts amenities. Trust me. Listen to Globetrotting TravelingGrandmom’s ideas on how to maximize your Disney fun by taking a break.

Splash it Up at the Water Park: Ok, so maybe planning an off property Disney vacation doesn’t give you access to the awesome Beach Club pool with its full-sized pirate ship and lazy river, but you don’t need it if you take advantage of Disney’s water parks, which are a relatively inexpensive add to your park hopper pass. So create that awesome water park experience with some time at Typhoon Lagoon. Photo TravelingMom gives you a sneak peak with her Typhoon Lagoon videos.

Go Shopping: Who needs a hotel gift shop when you have the entire Disney Springs shopping, dining and entertainment district to explore? If your budget doesn’t allow for souvenirs, there are lots of free activities available at Disney Springs. Melodious TravelingMom found a fossil dig, chocolate, and floating cars. Yes. I said floating cars. Check it out.

Get Around in Style: One of the perks of staying on Disney property is the ease of using Disney transportation. However, planning an off property Disney vacation doesn’t mean you can’t use Disney’s awesome transportation system. You can still take the monorail, enjoy the ferry boat, or explore some of Disney’s more unique transportation options, like the amphicar at Disney Springs. Frequent Flyer TravelingMom has lots of transportation tips for those staying at off-site hotels at Disney World.

So where should you stay for your off property Disney vacation?

There are so many options when looking for a hotel to base out of during your off property Disney vacation. Here at Traveling Mom, we’ve visited a few and have some suggestions.

Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista: Embassy Suites is one of the Disney Good Neighbor Hotels. What does that mean? It means the facilities and staff are up to Walt Disney standards of quality and service, and they provide vacation planning and Disney information to guests; so you can feel good that even though you aren’t technically on Disney property, you’ll still be getting similar smiling faces and Walt Disney World resort information. Tween ‘N Teen TravelingMom has the scoop on what to expect in an article about her family’s stay at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista.

Wyndham Disney Springs: The Wyndam Disney Springs is another Disney Good Neighbor Hotel within walking distance of, you guessed it, Disney Springs shopping, dining and entertainment district. This hotel also has an extensive breakfast buffet that includes Mickey Mouse waffles, which make any Disney breakfast a treat, and you can choose to eat your waffles with Disney characters during the Character Breakfast. In addition, there is a Disney gift shop, splash pad and pool and an activities director. But what really makes the hotel special according to Globetrotting TravelingGrandmom in the Wyndham at Disney Springs staff.

About Sue Rodman

Sue Rodman is an Atlanta transplant, the mom of 3 boys and managing editor of 365 Atlanta Family, an award winning family travel blog that covers family travel, outdoor adventure, and date night diversions. Sue has been interviewed on Family Travel in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Family Fun, Publix Magazine, and on all three major television networks. She also shares her travel knowledge as a writer for Explore Georgia, and Simply Buckhead Magazine. She has also captured hundreds of trip ideas, inside information about must-see Atlanta attractions and more in her popular book “101+ Free Things to do in Atlanta.”